Monday, October 17, 2005

up late

oh I'm weary to me bones. I should go to bed. Why do I keep catching myself watching " The Biggest Loser" when it is such terrible TV?( I guess the answer to that one is self-evident!)

It was pretty frantic today at work. At one point I called a man in 1 1/4 hours late (yes, i know, embarrassing but true). While I could understand that 75 minutes is an outrageous amount of time to wait in a doctor's surgery, there was nothing I could do about it. I was trying to be firm with all those people who say, " Now, I have written a list", (meanwhile they have a 15 minute appointment slot and expect 1 hour worth of consulting time). There were just a couple of emergency non-booked patients, plus quite a few who would tell me, at the end of 15 minutes of discussion and examination ... " By the way, I've ALSO been having these crushing chest pains..." or something equivalent. It's not something you can just leave until another visit, is it?Inwardly I groan, thinking, well, that's going to take another 20 minutes minimum to sort out (I can feel the others in the waiting room seething, glaring, hating me). Anyway, today everyone was actually pretty nice about having to wait, for which I was so grateful. There's nothing worse than being hungry, tired, thirsty, worried about the sick baby you saw 2 patients ago, trying to do a good job with every patient, and then you call in a patient who is stony-faced, rigid with anger, who tells you, " I have been waiting 50 minutes! That is just not good enough!". I can understand the frustration, but I also feel like saying, " Do you think I want to run late and not get home until my kids are almost in bed? Do you think I'm running late because I'm eating cake? I'm sorry but I'm BUSTING MY GUTS here, lady!"

Hmm. I think I feel a little better. Nothing like a good vent.

3 comments:

Mackey said...

It is good to hear the other side of the story. I have never complained to my Dr. when I have been there, but there are times that I do have to wait quite awhile & I just assumed that they overbook themselves. Thank you for helping me see from the other side.:)

Jellyhead said...

mackeydoodle, you have no idea how good your comment made me feel. I feel all understood! Thanks so much

Susan Tidwell said...

Used to work in a doctor's office, been there done that. Never enough time to give the patients all the attention they want/need/deserve, got to make the schedule....

Thanks for your note on my blog, it is good to get feedback. (Patchwork Reflections)